Gone to Print…

5th August 2006

Some (most?) of you probably know that I have written a book. It has taken seven months of blood, sweat and beers, but today Beginning CSS Web Development has finally gone to print.

It has been hard work, long nights, a huge strain on my relationship, and I have barely seen my family and friends. I don’t know how I managed to stick to the schedule, although it is probably down to the brilliant team at Apress. A few authors told me tales of horror and woe, and that publishers are difficult, demanding and will rewrite whole sections just prior to printing, but this is the antethesis of my experience. I’ve cried a couple of times when I didn’t think I could do it, but the Apress team were wonderfully supportive and flexible with my deadlines. If ever Apress approach you to write a book, say “Yes” immediately.

The result is a book I’m incredibly proud of, and much more comprehensive (and funnier, I think) than I hoped it would be. It is aimed at beginners/intermediates, but several “pros” have read it and learned a thing or two. You can read more at the official book site, but I will add that I don’t see it as limited to beginners. It is a comprehensive overview of good CSS practice, and it doesn’t shy away from exploding the myths or explaining some of the more complex CSS approaches. I won’t say it is advanced, but it is bloody thorough, and goes way beyond the scope of the average CSS book.

With solid technical reviewing from Dan Rubin and Richard Rutter, plus a typically idiosyncratic foreword from Malarkey, it all ended up being a complete thrill.

I’ll write more when it is published at the end of the month, but for now, get on over to the book site and enter one of the competitions, sign up for updates, or browse the table of contents. A couple of chapter downloads will also be available in the next few days.

If you really want to help, there is a comprehensive suite of Amazon links. Oh, go on! I don’t ask for much, and you’ll bloody love it!

Responses

Congratulations!
I’ve written a book, too, on an entirely different subject, and in those last weeks, I cried, too. You may have been joking about the crying part█I don’t know. But, I really did cry a couple of times. I never saw my friends, my home was neglected, thank goodness I didn’t have any children or they would have run away from home. But I sent it out into the world and then had the joy of knowing it sort of developed a life of its own and entered and affected the lives of lots of people. I’m really looking forward to reading yours and I’ll definitely use your Amazon link….though I might investigate those contests first. :)

Veerle: Thanks. Not that much time to relax - I have to catch up with everything I was forced to ignore - like that certain job you and I have to get done…

Olly: “Dedicated” meaning I ain’t been down the pub enough lately? “Responsible” meaning my public facade is obviously intact, despite me being shite privately. (Readers - Olly is my best mate, so he knows)